Marea'/Northern Hawwariya – 2019 Excavation Season

Abstract

The 2019 season at 'Marea' is a continuation of the research excavation started the year before. The goal is to determine the date of foundation and using all the structures visible on the site and to use trial trenches to find the remains of habitation below those structures. Remains dated in the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods were found in nine trenches. The oldest remains are a series of locally-manufactured amphorae, discovered under one of the Byzantine buildings in the northern part of the site. The entire eastern waterfront was uncovered, along with the adjacent latrines, streets and buildings which are presumed to be residential. The structures which were examined were very regularly formed and involved large-scale earthworks. They were built no earlier than the mid-6th century A.D., and, although their purpose sometimes changed, they remained in use until about the mid-8th century A.D.